I've been thinking of doing a Top 10 list on this blog for some time now. The difficulty was trying to compose a list that hasn't been covered yet (see the WatchMojo YouTube channel for pretty much every Top 10 list ever). I haven't covered much television so far, and have only written about one comedy: Beverly Hills Cop (1984). So I've decided to dedicate a post to one of my favourite comedy series on television: Not Going Out. Created by British comedian Lee Mack, he writes and stars as a fictionalised version of himself. Living as a lodger with his attractive landlady, Lee tries his best to impress her whilst also trying to steer clear of any trouble. But Lee can't help rope his best friend Tim (Tim Vine) into his schemes, and this usually ends up with their plans backfiring. With its dead-pan humour and witty writing, Not Going Out frequently has me coming back for more. Here's my personal 10 favourite episodes of the show so far:
10. Lucy (Series 7, Episode 9)
This episode makes the list not so much for the comedy, though that's still here in spades of course, but for the ending. Set entirely in the one location, Lee is troubled that his chances of ever being with Lucy (Sally Bretton) are fading. With competition supposedly arriving, Lee must quickly find the courage to admit his feelings to Lucy, but begins to doubt if he's the right man for her. While definitely the most dramatic episode, the comedy doesn't suffer, and that's largely down to the conversations between Lee and his neighbour Toby (Hugh Dennis). But the highlight is of course the ending. After seven seasons, we finally see Lee at his most sensitive. Seeing him get together with Lucy is both satisfying and hilarious, with Lee still managing to keep his witty personality intact whilst trying to be romantic. One of my favourite moments from the show.9. Rachel (Series 6, Episode 5)
Yet another episode where Lee tries to get in touch with his romantic side. Only this time, it's to make Lucy jealous, as he tries to prove that he can be in a relationship if he wants to. He asks out the good looking Rachel (Joanna Bobin) on a dinner date, but Rachel seems a bit too keen to see Lee again. It soon becomes clear that Rachel isn't all Lee had hoped, with her strange behaviour amounting to recreating the film Fatal Attraction. The dinner date scenes are what makes the episode so funny, with Lee becoming more and more disillusioned with Rachel as she becomes more attached to him:Rachel: Why won't you just listen to your heart, Lee?
Lee: I can't hear it, my brain's doing too much screaming.
Throw in a crazy ending with Lee's ditzy friend Daisy (Katy Wix) saving the day, and you have an amusing take on just how bad dating a psychopath can go.
8. Surprise (Series 7, Episode 7)
When Lucy plans a surprise anniversary party at a restaurant for her parents, she makes her biggest mistake by telling Lee all about it. Lee tries his best to act natural, but Lucy's father Geoffrey (Geoffrey Whitehead) soon finds out, and Lee must do all he can to get the party cancelled, as Geoffrey hates surprises. The lengths Lee goes to accomplish this are incredible, even going as far as telling the owner of the restaurant that Geoffrey has died. When the owner shows up to show his condolences, Lee buries himself even deeper as he now must spin more lies and stop the now happening party being ruined. With Lee trying to con more people than he can possibly handle, this is an episode that doesn't disappoint.7. Conference (Series 6, Episode 4)
A lot of Not Going Out focuses on Lee's attempts to worm his way into Lucy's affections, even if it means lying. In Conference, we see Lucy assume this role, as she tries flirting with potential clients at a business conference. When she pretends to be married to show there's a limit as to how far she's willing to flirt, Lee isn't happy at all, and shows up to the conference in order to keep an eye on Lucy's actions. This scenario is used to its full comedic potential, with Lucy's parents even showing up to the conference. Geoffrey gets all the best moments, with his hot-headedness not exactly aiding in a misunderstanding of a client thinking that he's Lucy's unclean, lazy "husband". Meanwhile, Lucy's mother Wendy (Deborah Grant) has to spend time with Lee, and soon Lucy isn't the only one attempting to flirt...6. Gay (Series 2, Episode 2)
Usually when Lee is in a spot of bother, his best friend Tim is the first to know. Except this time, not only does Lee forget to inform Tim, but it is in fact Lee who has been dragged into a false pretence. Lucy is told that her workmate Guy (Simon Dutton) is gay, and so feels bad after making a joke about homosexuality beforehand. Despite being told this, Lucy's attraction to Guy remains, and so she tells him that she lives with a gay man in order to prove she is not homophobic. With Lee struggling to prove he ins't interested in the opposite sex. Tim slowly becomes convinced Lee may actually be gay. Lee's growing restlessness of pretending to be gay played out alongside Tim's suspicions makes for some of the best dialogue exchanges in the show. My personal favourite is when Tim finally wants Lee to tell him the truth, but Lee thinks Tim has found out that he's lying to help Lucy:Tim: Look, why don't you just tell me.
Lee: Tell you what?
Tim: About you being... gay.
Lee: Oh that. How did you find out?
Tim: So it's true?
Lee: Yeah, but I'm not doing it for much longer.
Tim: Why?
Lee: Can't keep it up.
Simon Dutton is great here, perhaps his best episode of his one series in the show. The icing on the cake is his disbelief of Lee's sexuality, but not at all questioning that Tim is gay. Luckily for Lucy, her lie proves meaningless as Guy isn't gay at all. Guy instead shares the same attraction towards Lucy, setting up a strong story arc for the series.
5. Winner (Series 3, Episode 2)
Winning a writing competition doesn't seem like something Lee is capable of, so Tim isn't the least bit surprised to learn that he simply downloaded the essay off the internet. Lee isn't affected by Tim's discovery, however, as he feels the competition organisers won't think he is capable of using the internet if he is "blind". Lee's optimism is soon shattered when a journalist wants to interview him, and it turns out that Lee entered the essay under the pretence that he is a wheelchair user by mistake. From there, the episode offers up even more false disabilities Lee claims members of his family have in a desperate attempt to fool the journalist. It reminds me of the Fawlty Towers episode "Communication Problems", with so many characters being manipulated so the protagonist can claim a sum of cash. The best episode of Lee's overambitious conning gone wrong in the show's history.4. Camping (Series 5, Episode 3)
What happens when Lee goes against the title of the show, and goes out? In this episode, Lee wants to prove to Lucy that there is no way she'd be able to cope with the great outdoors. Along with Tim and Daisy, their journey to the camp-site leads them to a spooky wood, where they soon discover they are not alone... Seeing the characters in such a different situation and acting scared makes Camping a stand-out episode of the show. I can't say too much, as you simply have to see it to understand just how funny it is. One thing to mention is that it is a surprisingly suspenseful episode, and Daisy is perhaps at her very best here.3. Band (Series 5, Episode 1)
"You're just not very cool". Tim refuses to let Lee join his rock band, lead by charismatic guitarist Stretch, who appears to have his sights set on winning Lucy's heart. Lee, wanting to keep his eye on Stretch, is determined to prove he is cool enough to play in the band, just as a Battle of the Bands competition gets started. As a fan of rock music, this was an episode I was particularly looking forward to, and seeing Lee attempt to wow the audience with his "musicianship" makes for one of the show's greatest moments. There's a hilarious cover of Motorhead's "Ace of Spades", and Lee and Tim's brilliant chemistry is given plenty of moments to shine:Lee: We'll go on forever, just like Status Quo.
Tim: With two guitarists?
Lee: Exactly, just like Status Quo.
Tim: You've certainly changed your tune.
Lee: Exactly, just like Status... in fact forget that last one.
2. Stress (Series 1, Episode 4)
As Lee becomes more and more stressed, his original landlady Kate (Megan Dodds) suggests a variety of ways for him to calm down. With her yoga session not lasting long, she books him in for an acupuncture appointment, whilst Tim tries to mend his damaged friendship with her. Lee Mack is superb throughout the episode, with his sarcastic delivery of the dialogue playing perfectly off Megan Dodds' straight faced acting. Even the acupuncturist (Miranda Hart) gets sick of Lee, which results in a rare moment of physical violence, all of course presented as completely over the top. Tim also has some great moments, with him constantly swinging between genuinely wanting to help Kate, to backing out of the idea entirely when he finds out Lee and Kate may be seeing each other. Not one scene is without laughs, and it all builds to a fantastic conclusion involving Kate's attempt at driving in the company of a jealous Tim, and a doped up Lee...1. Drunk (Series 5, Episode 6)
I'll try my best not to spoil this episode, as it has the best build up and climax in the show. Lee and Lucy make what could be the biggest mistake of their lives after drinking too much home-brewed alcohol, rendering them with no memory of what they did. The next morning, they try to piece everything together, leading them to try and recover a videotape that they can't afford to let anyone see. All the main characters get a moment to shine, including Tim and Lucy's parents, where Geoffrey Whitehead steals the show with only a few lines. With the scenario becoming even more of a farce as events unfold, this episode sums up everything I love about Not Going Out: wacky storylines, hilarious character interactions, and all of it being delivered with in a dead-pan manner. If you don't laugh at this episode then the show really isn't for you, but for me, comedy doesn't get much better than this fantastic episode of one of my favourite comedy series.Honourable Mentions:
Kid (Series 1, Episode 5)
Gangster (Series 2, Episode 7)
Party (Series 3, Episode 4)
Drugs (Series 4, Episode 1)
Movie (Series 4, Episode 3)
Pointless (Series 7, Episode 5)
The Wedding (Series 7, Episode 10)
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